A Celebration of African Cultures on 19th Street

San Franciscans celebrated the diversity of African immigrant cultures at the Mission’s first African Street Festival on Sunday. Staff at the Mission-based non-profit African Advocacy Network (AAN) organized the festival in order to build a stronger community and a stronger voice for African immigrants.

With the help of Bissap Baobab Village restaurateur Marco Senghor, and the Duniya Drum Dance Troupe of Guinea, as well as several sponsors, 19th Street, between Mission and Capp, was turned into a high-energy dance and music venue. Bay Area residents of every ethnicity feasted on Senegalese food, cheered dance and drum ensembles from seven different African cultures, and joined in the dancing themselves.